Greece

NBA players have confirmed they will not compete in the world championships in Athens next month, the organising committee said on Wednesday.

International athletics chief Primo Nebiolo has said he no longer fears the stadium for next year's world championships will not be ready on time.

The National Basketball Association is still on course for its first player lockout.

Greek club AEK Athens won't be allowed to participate in the upcoming UEFA Cup competition unless its ownership changes by July 1, the Greek Football Federation (EPO) said on Thursday.

The 2004 Olympics in Athens could be a disaster without proper planning, the head of the organising committee said on Thursday.

British investment group ENIC has said it has won court clearance for AEK Athens and Slavia Prague to play in the UEFA Cup next season.

Kellogg's and the National Basketball Association have signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement.

Sports marketing organisation ISL Worldwide has signed an accord giving French pay television group Canal Plus exclusive broadcasting rights in Europe to basketball events from 1999 to 2004.

Five years after its bitter defeat to Sydney in the race for the 2000 Olympics, China looks ready to bid for 2008.

Europe's leading soccer leagues have taken on world governing body FIFA about releasing players for the controversial Confederations' Cup in January.

The Olympic torch will travel through some of Australia's most famous landmarks before igniting the cauldron to officially open the Sydney 2000 Games.

With no end in sight to the NBA lockout, overall No. 1 draft pick Michael Olowokandi might go to Europe to play professionally.

Greece Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos has denied that Athens was lagging behind in preparations to stage the 2004 Olympics.

Malaysia has confirmed it will be bidding to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

Olympic boss Juan Antonio Samaranch has lavished praise on Thailand's much-maligned organisers of the 13th Asian Games, describing Sunday's opening ceremony as one of the best he had ever seen.

The French capital announced it was bidding for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Chinese sports officials have waded into the Olympic bribery row, saying Beijing may have been a victim of IOC corruption when it lost to Sydney in the contest to host the 2000 Games.

The bribery scandal now rocking the Olympic movement would scarcely have shocked its ancient Greek founders.